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Aug 27 2024

What Voters Need to Know: Ohio Supreme Court

The upcoming races for three seats on the Ohio Supreme Court will significantly impact Ohio’s judicial landscape.

Summary

The Ohio Supreme Court is a 7-member bench with 3 of those seats up this year, each race is for a 6-year term. The 2024 General Election for the Ohio Supreme Court will determine which party will control the majority on the court, with a current 4 GOP and 3 DEM party breakdown. The Ohio Supreme Court makes decisions on important cases regarding abortion, voting rights and how much we pay for electricity. A shift in the Ohio Supreme Court’s makeup could provide a check on the executive and legislative branches of government, playing a critical role in protecting the integrity of our democratic process.

Our research, including a March 2024 survey of 594 Ohio adults and June 2024 focus groups with potential ticket-splitters, reveals significant insights into voter awareness, attitudes, and effective messaging strategies. This guide synthesizes these findings to help progressive organizations effectively educate and persuade voters, with a particular focus on engaging ticket-splitters.


Understanding Voter Knowledge and Attitudes

Given their inclination to carefully consider their options, undecided voters, political independents and potential ticket-splitters represent a crucial group that progressives need to engage and persuade in the upcoming Ohio Supreme Court races.

  • Low Awareness of Ohio Supreme Court Races: Most voters, including those who are politically engaged, lack a clear understanding of the Ohio Supreme Court’s role and the impact of its decisions. This knowledge gap, which is most prevalent among undecided voters and those open to splitting their ticket, leads many voters to skip judicial races on the ballot or default to party-line voting based on limited information.
  • Disillusionment with the Political System: Ticket-splitters—voters who do not consistently vote along party lines—express growing disillusionment with politics. They are frustrated by extreme partisanship, distrustful of “career politicians,” and deeply concerned about corruption and nepotism in government. They worry about the influence of politics, money, and special interests on judicial decisions. High-profile scandals, such as the Householder corruption case, have heightened these concerns.
  • Priorities of Ticket-Splitters: Ticket-splitters prioritize qualities like independence, honesty, impartiality, and fairness in candidates. They value judicial experience and a demonstrated commitment to upholding the law without political bias. Key issues for these voters include cracking down on corruption, protecting constitutional rights, ensuring access to abortion, and tackling crime effectively. Additionally, some ticket-splitters value diversity in age, gender, and race among the judiciary.

What Voters Need To Know

  • Role of the Court: Voters need to know that the Ohio Supreme Court plays a critical role in shaping state law, protecting rights, and making decisions that affect their daily lives. The court’s influence extends to areas like healthcare, education, workers’ rights, and reproductive rights. It’s essential for voters to recognize the significance of who sits on the bench, as these decisions have long-term impacts.
  • Awareness of the Election: Many voters are unaware that Ohio Supreme Court seats are up for election. It’s important to communicate that these elections are happening and that their vote in these races is crucial. Emphasizing that their participation can shape the future of Ohio will help create a sense of urgency.
  • Highlight Experience and Judicial Ratings: Experience and competence are key factors for ticket-splitters and independents. Voters are more likely to support candidates who have a proven track record as judges and who are highly rated by respected institutions. Highlighting a candidate’s years of service, judicial ratings, and significant accomplishments will resonate strongly with these voters. When creating visuals, think of ways to show experience and competence, like visuals with the candidates in judicial robes.
  • Emphasize the Issue of Abortion: Abortion continues to be a decisive issue, especially for those who may consider splitting their tickets. Voters are moved by candidates’ stances on reproductive rights, and this issue is particularly relevant in light of ongoing legal challenges in Ohio. Clearly communicating where each candidate stands on reproductive rights is crucial, as this remains a key driver of voter behavior.
  • Balanced Messaging for Moderates: Voters respond best to a balanced narrative that includes both the strengths of the candidates and the potential risks of electing others. While highlighting a candidate’s experience and competence is important, it’s also effective to subtly address concerns about issues like legal integrity and public safety. This approach helps create a sense of urgency and encourages thoughtful consideration without overtly attacking opponents.

Sample Messages:

  • The three justices elected to the Ohio Supreme Court will have a significant impact on critical issues affecting Ohioans’ freedoms. 
  • Decisions made by these Justices will shape pivotal cases, including several to safeguard abortion rights, ensuring that families can make their own personal decisions without intrusive government interference.
  • The Ohio Supreme Court serves as an important check on the executive and legislative branches of government to guard against extremism and to protect the integrity of our democratic process.

Written by Terra Goodnight · Categorized: 2024 Election Hub · Tagged: messaging, Ohio Supreme Court, research

Mar 04 2020

Ohio’s Hard-to-Count Communities and 2020 Census Outreach Efforts

Understanding and communicating with Ohio’s Hard-to-Count communities for 2020 Census outreach efforts

As a joint effort, Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio, Innovation Ohio Education Fund and the Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network have put together this document using national messaging guidance, research, and feedback gathered from discussions with leaders, community members, and direct service providers in Ohio’s hard-to-count (HTC) communities across the state.

By combining national messaging guidance from the U.S. Census Bureau and national nonprofits and our own messaging research, we believe the following document provides the best advice and guidance for how to motivate Ohioans to participate in the 2020 Census. 

Download Census Message Guidance

The Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio (CDF) facilitated design-thinking workshops in communities across the state to gain insight into the barriers communities faced to participating in the Census and how we can work to overcome these barriers. 

The Ohio Women’s Public Policy Network (WPPN) is a coalition of more than 30 organizations working collaboratively to advocate for public policies that build economic opportunity for women and strengthen families. Considering the large stake women and their families have in the Census and the key role women will play in ensuring a complete count, WPPN conducted listening sessions with their coalition partners to identify the particular concerns and barriers women of all backgrounds in the state expressed.

Written by Katherine Liming · Categorized: Democracy · Tagged: Innovation Ohio Education Fund, message guidance, messaging, OCAC, Ohio, ohio census advocacy coalition, ohio women's public policy network, ohio wppn, Women's Watch, You matter be counted

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